Virginia Grace

Told through a memoire, Siren Queen is Luli Wei’s voice and the story she has to tell. Vo’s writing style made Luli feel real. Here was a woman who tells you how it is: her thoughts, her opinions, her reasonings. She tells you enough as it is without needing to drive a point to the ground that I appreciate as a reader. 

Luli Wei isn’t a good person. She knows the mistakes she makes and makes it incredibly clear, yet I continued to want to root for her. I wanted to see how her story unfolds and how she grew into her success. When reading, I entered the world as a different kind of spectator. I became Luli Wei’s audience– one of her adoring fans wanting to know about her rise to stardom.

I neglected mentioning another reason why I decided to read this book. In truth, I’ve been obsessed with the Hollywood Golden age and stories of it, which influenced my choice in picking up this novel. Listening to Singing in the Rain’s soundtrack, wistfully remembering Sound of Music’s scenes, primed me for more media on the Hollywood setting. Despite the plethora of novels and movies that romanize and dramatize the life of actors in this era, Siren Queen offers a new perspective– one not often told in this setting. Luli Wei's story is about the life of a Chinese woman in the film industry. The novel treats the prejudice and racism she faces with seriousness and a personal understanding of the matter. It’s a part of her everyday life, whether it is stated directly or exists subtly. 

It also improves on the genre with its magic realism. Magic exists so naturally in this universe. I understood the magic was real without needing explanations because it was written so seamlessly. It’s an everyday thing, just as much as any science. It’s never “in-your-face” or made a big deal; it’s another fact of this universe. It adds to the mystic behind Hollywood– a metaphor for the already existing intrigue of that type of life.

Her story with her family was so heart-wrenching and familiar– full of hurt and love. She lived a life that felt lonely and exhausting to her. She’s dealing with losing her Chinese identity–by giving up Cantonese, her family– in favor of the blinding beauty that is Hollywood– one she fights throughout the book to not be excluded from her race. 

Her relationship with her little sister is all too real and incredibly interesting. They love each other deeply, understand one another, and no one else will understand the laundry or the trauma they’ve gone through from their father, and mother. The lesson of sisterhood and forgiveness was one of the most powerful ways the book ended the climax. Luli stole her sister’s name, abandoned her, and it torments her the entire time. It’s in subtle ways, and Luli always makes a point to mention it throughout the novel– signalling the emotional stress it causes her.

It’s only when she’s at her breaking point in the movie industry that she runs away in search of her sister– her home she has lost despite it existing so close. She attempts to reconcile, to right the wrongs she’s done, to love the person who understands her entirely. It was beautiful that Luli (the real Luli) forgave her but set boundaries. The option to become a part of each other’s lives was given to her court, and she’s skeptical but open to the idea. It was my favorite way the novel fulfilled Luli’s story, and was the perfect set up for the rest of the novel. 

In fact, it’s deeply involved in Luli’s journey to realize who she wants to be as an actress. Throughout, she’s been drifting, having goals and ideas of what not to be and what she could be, but never truly deciding for herself. The outer perception of her racial identity puts her in a box. She goes along with others ideas: Jacko, Greta, Emmeline, the Pipeline… However, it’s after her trip to see her sister again, where she really chooses for herself and breaks from the box. She gives herself options: knowing who she does not want to be, but allowing the opportunity to do something she loves. 

And, she enjoyed being a monster, the Siren Queen.

Speaking of love mentioned with her sister, let’s talk about the other types of love Luli’s relationships tell. I was in awe of the queer romances in this novel, and had not expected it! They were written with so much dedication and love towards the queer woman experience. None were the same, all different forms of the same love, and I adored how they crossed over in various ways. Luli finding a friend in the two of them in the end was beautiful.

And, I appreciated how her endgame relationship with Jane is in the margins and the ending. It signals that the love she shares with her is for them alone– that Hollywood cannot get this one thing for itself because it’s for Luli to share on her own terms, just as she’s gained the ability to make her job her own.

Overall, Siren Queen is a glorious read. Luli had so much to say and tell, and I enjoyed all of it. It was one of those books I was excited to read every time I woke up. Seriously. My routine would be: make tea, complete my Animal Crossing: New Horizon chores, then bury my head into this book until I was hungry for breakfast (or running late to class). I absolutely, honestly, cannot recommend it enough.